Official | Stijn Spierings joins RC Lens on a free transfer

RC Lens have had a wonderful season, which saw them reach the heights of second place in Ligue 1, as well as booking their place for the Champions League group stage next year, over two decades since their last appearance in the competition.

However, there should be some movement in the squad, with players such as Loïs Openda and Seko Fofana targeted by other clubs. For now, they have confirmed their first arrival of the summer, in the shape of Stijn Spierings (27).

As confirmed by the club yesterday, with pictures of the player with sporting director, Arnaud Pouille, the Dutch player joins Les Artésois for four seasons. After three seasons playing in the purple shirt of Toulouse FC, the defensive midfielder came to the end of his contract this month and wanted a new adventure.

Coming through the ranks at AZ Alkmaar, Spierings hopped around the country, going through RKC Waalwijk and Sparta Rotterdam, winning the Dutch second-division title in 2016 with Sparta. After a quick stop at Bulgarian side Levski Sofia, he finally joined Toulouse in 2020, the summer of the club’s relegation.

Part of their new data-driven model after the RedBird Capital takeover, he was joined by Dutch colleagues Branco van den Boomen and Thijs Dallinga over the years. Les Violets won the Ligue 2 title in 2022, before impressing everyone in Ligue 1 this season, winning the Coupe de France against FC Nantes back in May.

Spierings played 36 of the 38 league games this season, becoming the player in the “Top 5 leagues” with the most interceptions, 336, ahead of Declan Rice and Manchester City’s Rodri. At Lens, he will be welcomed by old teammates Deiver Machado and Wesley Saïd, both alumni of the TéFéCé.

Pouille said of the player that he is “mature, well-balanced and showed a strong will to join the club.” No doubt that Champions League football, as well as working with one of the best managers in France, Franck Haise, was a great motivation to join Le Sang et Or.

GFFN | Tom Abadie